Since being here near the sea and catching up with all that jet lag, we have become early risers - so we have to make special care not to wake everyone up when we are getting ready to go out sharing a dorm with 7 other people.
This morning we went to Freemantle Jail, which was rather interesting and we learned that it was the last place that someone was hanged in Australia back in 1991 when they left the jail.
Later on this evening we are going to go and see the Southern Cross (Stars) which you can only see from here and then to a pub to listen to some very talented young man play the piano, didgeridoo and sing all at the same time!

Since being here near the sea and catching up with all that jet lag, we have become early risers - so we have to make special care not to wake everyone up when we are getting ready to go out sharing a dorm with 7 other people.
This morning we went to Freemantle Jail, which was rather interesting and we learned that it was the last place that someone was hanged in Australia back in 1991 when they left the jail.
Later on this evening we are going to go and see the Southern Cross (Stars) which you can only see from here and then to a pub to listen to some very talented young man play the piano, didgeridoo and sing all at the same time!

Fremantle Prison is the largest convict-built prison in Australia and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It provides a perfect World War prison setting with wide-spread rumors of paranormal existence. What is even more fascinating is its underground tunnel and aqueducts. An exciting place to re-visit an era gone by. It is also the only world heritage site in Perth.

A trip to Prague is incomplete without strolling down the mighty Charles Bridge and soaking in the glorious views of the city. Authorized in the 14th century by Charles IV, this bridge withstood wheeled traffic for a good 500 years until it was entirely pedestrianized after the Second World War. Today, a swarm of tourists, hawkers and street performers make sure this illustrious fairground is perpetually busy and bustling with activity. The many baroque statues stand tall and impressive despite the winds blowing with all the ferocity they could possibly muster. Soothing tunes waft from the many violins and accordions while the buskers play in a state of trance. The constant human chatter adds to the music.
Charles Bridge is the soul of Prague and its magic will keep you coming back for more. Interestingly, if you do not shy away from superstitions, rubbing the bronze plaque on the statue of John of Nepomuk will apparently ensure your second visit to the city.
Essential information:
Kammeny Most (Charles Bridge) is open 24 hours and there obviously is no entry fee. If in case you do not live around Old Town or Mala Strana, both of which are walking distance from the bridge, taking a tram up to Karlovy lázně or Malostranské náměstí is recommended, depending on the side you are coming from.

A trip to Prague is incomplete without strolling down the mighty Charles Bridge and soaking in the glorious views of the city. Authorized in the 14th century by Charles IV, this bridge withstood wheeled traffic for a good 500 years until it was entirely pedestrianized after the Second World War. Today, a swarm of tourists, hawkers and street performers make sure this illustrious fairground is perpetually busy and bustling with activity. The many baroque statues stand tall and impressive despite the winds blowing with all the ferocity they could possibly muster. Soothing tunes waft from the many violins and accordions while the buskers play in a state of trance. The constant human chatter adds to the music.
Charles Bridge is the soul of Prague and its magic will keep you coming back for more. Interestingly, if you do not shy away from superstitions, rubbing the bronze plaque on the statue of John of Nepomuk will apparently ensure your second visit to the city.
Essential information:
Kammeny Most (Charles Bridge) is open 24 hours and there obviously is no entry fee. If in case you do not live around Old Town or Mala Strana, both of which are walking distance from the bridge, taking a tram up to Karlovy lázně or Malostranské náměstí is recommended, depending on the side you are coming from.

This is easily any chocolate lover's heaven. Buy award-winning chocolates, candies and fudges here. They have over 300 chocolate products for you to choose from. Here comes the best part though, they provide free tasting samples! The Fremantle Chocolate factory displays such delicious truffles, bars and fudges that you won't be able to stop yourself from indulging completely.

Well there is one way to describe Perth and thats Boho! It's a great, proper surfer dude vibe here and lots of stunning beaches (not that I have got to see them all yet). Its a lot more different to what I was expecting though in all seriousness, but I love it.
We are staying in a hostel called Underground (from one London to another) and its a bit skanky here. But I am willing to give the hostel a chance and see what happens...
So far today we have met some crazy 'dude' from NZ called David who Jen seems to have pulled... (lucky her). I don't think that we will be here for much longer than tonight to be completely honest, as its not the cleanest of places either... we can investigate in the morning though.
We are off to Nandos for dinner tonight and then for an early night ready for an early morning tomorrow!

Well there is one way to describe Perth and thats Boho! It's a great, proper surfer dude vibe here and lots of stunning beaches (not that I have got to see them all yet). Its a lot more different to what I was expecting though in all seriousness, but I love it.
We are staying in a hostel called Underground (from one London to another) and its a bit skanky here. But I am willing to give the hostel a chance and see what happens...
So far today we have met some crazy 'dude' from NZ called David who Jen seems to have pulled... (lucky her). I don't think that we will be here for much longer than tonight to be completely honest, as its not the cleanest of places either... we can investigate in the morning though.
We are off to Nandos for dinner tonight and then for an early night ready for an early morning tomorrow!

Unfortunately—from a storytelling point of view—there was nothing uncomfortable, palpitating or even vaguely gruesome about my stay in Perth, other than the outrageous prices on everything. It’s a lovely city, lapped by the gentle waves of the Indian Ocean, with spectacular beaches, a decent local music scene and a food environment that, really, is a bit lacking in imagination. Thai and Nepalese are about as outré as it gets.
But it’s really the people that I met that made Perth memorable. Sharon, my Couchsurfing host for about nine days, was a total gem. John, the organic gardener and character extraordinaire, was great. And the various other itinerants I met along the way—all under 30 and laboring under what seems to me a pretty exploitive work-holiday visa regime—for the most part delighted me. And a big shout-out to the rodeo crew who made New Year’s a blast.

Fringed by sand and a dense woodland of paperbark and eucalyptus trees, Lake Hillier is a 600 metres long wonder. A concoction of pink bacteria (halobacteria), salt-loving algae (Dunaliella salina) and high salinity, imparts the deep bubblegum pink colour year-round, to this spectacular lake of Western Australia’s Recherche Archipelago.Badab-e-Surt - A yellow Iranian staircase

Fringed by sand and a dense woodland of paperbark and eucalyptus trees, Lake Hillier is a 600 metres long wonder. A concoction of pink bacteria (halobacteria), salt-loving algae (Dunaliella salina) and high salinity, imparts the deep bubblegum pink colour year-round, to this spectacular lake of Western Australia’s Recherche Archipelago.Badab-e-Surt - A yellow Iranian staircase

Built in 1986, the Perth Town hall is a historical heritage. It is constructed on the highest point in the center of the town, this structure boasts of a Victorian Gothic architecture. It was built by a majority of convicts and thus certain motifs on the walls include a hangman's rope and broad arrow. Its architecture is reminiscence of 16th century Italy or Britain, with a hall adjoining a watch tower. It has been extended and renovated several times and its significance to the town can be gauged by the people's movement to stop the demolition of a building that would affect the structure. The Perth Town Hall is an important landmark for the city and its people.

Built in 1986, the Perth Town hall is a historical heritage. It is constructed on the highest point in the center of the town, this structure boasts of a Victorian Gothic architecture. It was built by a majority of convicts and thus certain motifs on the walls include a hangman's rope and broad arrow. Its architecture is reminiscence of 16th century Italy or Britain, with a hall adjoining a watch tower. It has been extended and renovated several times and its significance to the town can be gauged by the people's movement to stop the demolition of a building that would affect the structure. The Perth Town Hall is an important landmark for the city and its people.

Our tour starts at the Fremantle Visitor Center at Kings Square, High St. This center is especially helpful to tourists as it provides information on the town, things to do, food and accommodation recommendations etc.

Our tour starts at the Fremantle Visitor Center at Kings Square, High St. This center is especially helpful to tourists as it provides information on the town, things to do, food and accommodation recommendations etc.

I personally think that Bell Rapids is a pretty decent place to get close to Mother Nature, which provides a short escapade from the city and work :) Besides that, it is a good choice for a family picnic! The Bells Rapid Walk Trail is relatively short but I think in terms of fitness requirement, it is a moderate one. Standing at the footbridge over Swan River, you could see the spectacular view of the rapid that serves as a vantage point for the popular annual White-Water event early August. There are two walk trails available, which is the River Walk (2.5km with mostly flat walk along the river) and Goat Walk (3 km with some steep inclines and loose gravel sections). We decided to challenge the Goat Walk and this energetic uphill climbs proved to be very rewarding with amazing panoramic views along the Darling Scarp and across Swan Coastal Plain to Perth City! :) Apparently at certain times of the year, you could spot the beautiful grey kangaroo in abundance, but sadly we couldn't spot any yesterday :( However, I am relatively happy to be able to spot some cute alpacas when we are leaving Bell Rapids :D

I personally think that Bell Rapids is a pretty decent place to get close to Mother Nature, which provides a short escapade from the city and work :) Besides that, it is a good choice for a family picnic! The Bells Rapid Walk Trail is relatively short but I think in terms of fitness requirement, it is a moderate one. Standing at the footbridge over Swan River, you could see the spectacular view of the rapid that serves as a vantage point for the popular annual White-Water event early August. There are two walk trails available, which is the River Walk (2.5km with mostly flat walk along the river) and Goat Walk (3 km with some steep inclines and loose gravel sections). We decided to challenge the Goat Walk and this energetic uphill climbs proved to be very rewarding with amazing panoramic views along the Darling Scarp and across Swan Coastal Plain to Perth City! :) Apparently at certain times of the year, you could spot the beautiful grey kangaroo in abundance, but sadly we couldn't spot any yesterday :( However, I am relatively happy to be able to spot some cute alpacas when we are leaving Bell Rapids :D

We had entered the Nullarbor Plain, a “flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north.” It is also, apparently, the world’s largest single piece of limestone and stretches more than 1,100 km from Western Australia into Southern Australia. It is hot, dry and dusty. Used by the nomadic Spinifex and Wanagi peoples, it was described as “a hideous anomaly, a blot on the face of Nature, the sort of place one gets into in bad dreams” by Edward John Eyre, the first European to cross the plain (1841.) The main highway through the land is named for him. I find this fact a bit sad, because while the land is harsh and unforgiving — you need to bring your own water with you — it’s got a grandeur and harsh nobility to it. It deserves a better highway than one named after a guy who hated the place.
Strangely, for a region named for its lack of trees, there sure are a lot of them. True, they’re mainly sad-looking eucalyptus bushes — which often look like broccoli sprouts with a hormone problem — but by any measure they’re trees.
Just before we left the lush wetlands of the southwest, however, I had my first run in with The Man outside Belladonna. Despite the Beast’s large size, it just wants to lunge forward when I put it in 5th gear. And so, I tend to let it have its head, and before I knew it, a cop car was approaching. As they passed me, they flashed their lights and I watched in my rearview mirror as they made a quick turn-around.

We had entered the Nullarbor Plain, a “flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north.” It is also, apparently, the world’s largest single piece of limestone and stretches more than 1,100 km from Western Australia into Southern Australia. It is hot, dry and dusty. Used by the nomadic Spinifex and Wanagi peoples, it was described as “a hideous anomaly, a blot on the face of Nature, the sort of place one gets into in bad dreams” by Edward John Eyre, the first European to cross the plain (1841.) The main highway through the land is named for him. I find this fact a bit sad, because while the land is harsh and unforgiving — you need to bring your own water with you — it’s got a grandeur and harsh nobility to it. It deserves a better highway than one named after a guy who hated the place.
Strangely, for a region named for its lack of trees, there sure are a lot of them. True, they’re mainly sad-looking eucalyptus bushes — which often look like broccoli sprouts with a hormone problem — but by any measure they’re trees.
Just before we left the lush wetlands of the southwest, however, I had my first run in with The Man outside Belladonna. Despite the Beast’s large size, it just wants to lunge forward when I put it in 5th gear. And so, I tend to let it have its head, and before I knew it, a cop car was approaching. As they passed me, they flashed their lights and I watched in my rearview mirror as they made a quick turn-around.

Today we got up early saw how sh*t the breakfast was a toodled along to the beach on the train. The beach on the other hand was beautiful and I am a little tiny bit sun burned... I missed the back of my legs a little bit (wont make that mistake again).

Today we got up early saw how sh*t the breakfast was a toodled along to the beach on the train. The beach on the other hand was beautiful and I am a little tiny bit sun burned... I missed the back of my legs a little bit (wont make that mistake again).

With old colonial buildings on one side and the pristine ocean marked with beautiful lighthouses on the other; we enjoyed the mark of beginning our journey on the most amazing coastline of Thomas Bay. Rustic cottages, old mills and vintage bricks all around us got my enthusiastic photographer out and all around the place with my camera!

With old colonial buildings on one side and the pristine ocean marked with beautiful lighthouses on the other; we enjoyed the mark of beginning our journey on the most amazing coastline of Thomas Bay. Rustic cottages, old mills and vintage bricks all around us got my enthusiastic photographer out and all around the place with my camera!

This gallery provides a taste of some contemporary art. More so, this gallery displays exhibitions of some emerging artists and new students. Fremantle in a way is filled with artists and musicians which is very evident by this gallery. There is also an adjoining cafe here.

This gallery provides a taste of some contemporary art. More so, this gallery displays exhibitions of some emerging artists and new students. Fremantle in a way is filled with artists and musicians which is very evident by this gallery. There is also an adjoining cafe here.

St Georges Terrace is the main street in Perth. Some of the earliest building (and tallest ones) are located here like the Colonial Mutual Life building, Citibank House, St Martin's tower etc. The Landmark structure here is the St George's Cathedral, an Anglican Church of Gothic beauty built in 1888.

St Georges Terrace is the main street in Perth. Some of the earliest building (and tallest ones) are located here like the Colonial Mutual Life building, Citibank House, St Martin's tower etc. The Landmark structure here is the St George's Cathedral, an Anglican Church of Gothic beauty built in 1888.

Turkey’s southwestern coastline is noted for its fine beaches and stunning scenery. This region has been dubbed “the Turquoise Coast” after the hues of its horizons and the sea. This is a popular holiday destination for Europeans. I didn’t sail the coastline here when I was in Turkey because I had just spent almost 3 months on Santorini and I had enough of the beach and coastlines at the time.

Turkey’s southwestern coastline is noted for its fine beaches and stunning scenery. This region has been dubbed “the Turquoise Coast” after the hues of its horizons and the sea. This is a popular holiday destination for Europeans. I didn’t sail the coastline here when I was in Turkey because I had just spent almost 3 months on Santorini and I had enough of the beach and coastlines at the time.

An art institute and an arts center, Kidogo is filled with emerging, as well as prominent artists of Fremantle. A great place to stop and ponder over the finer things in life (as art usually make you do). This art house is small yet displays some of the best artworks in the town. A seaside, relaxed town is bound to give birth to some freethinkers and artists after all!

An art institute and an arts center, Kidogo is filled with emerging, as well as prominent artists of Fremantle. A great place to stop and ponder over the finer things in life (as art usually make you do). This art house is small yet displays some of the best artworks in the town. A seaside, relaxed town is bound to give birth to some freethinkers and artists after all!

Lost means little when you’re halfway up a rock face, wedged furtively between towers of stone. Every surface looks the same from this angle; no map promises us stable footing. While other peaks in the Hazard Range of Freycinet National Park can be reached on a maintained trail, this one has not been tamed. The only proof of previous human touches are these granite guides. To trust them is to trust everyone who has climbed ahead and kept them in place.Isn’t there something all-inclusive about these wee piles? Throughout the ages, humans have written sagas with nothing more than a few stones, carefully placed one on top of the other: to indicate hunting ground in Greenland, to commemorate grave sites in Portugal, to garner good luck in South Korea.
And almost everywhere, they are used to mark trails and point a traveler in the right direction.
So I wedged my heel into a narrow crevice, sighed and stretched upward. We can doubt, or we can learn from the signs left by others. After all, it is always better to climb forward than to slide back down.

Lost means little when you’re halfway up a rock face, wedged furtively between towers of stone. Every surface looks the same from this angle; no map promises us stable footing. While other peaks in the Hazard Range of Freycinet National Park can be reached on a maintained trail, this one has not been tamed. The only proof of previous human touches are these granite guides. To trust them is to trust everyone who has climbed ahead and kept them in place.Isn’t there something all-inclusive about these wee piles? Throughout the ages, humans have written sagas with nothing more than a few stones, carefully placed one on top of the other: to indicate hunting ground in Greenland, to commemorate grave sites in Portugal, to garner good luck in South Korea.
And almost everywhere, they are used to mark trails and point a traveler in the right direction.
So I wedged my heel into a narrow crevice, sighed and stretched upward. We can doubt, or we can learn from the signs left by others. After all, it is always better to climb forward than to slide back down.

This trip includes a visit to the Murray st Mall and Hay st Mall, two of the best places to shop in Perth. Both these streets have a variety of speciality stores and the best part is that it is closed to traffic, so there is no vehicular disturbance as you hop from one shop to the other. These streets with a large number of retails stores give you a shopping experience like no other.

This trip includes a visit to the Murray st Mall and Hay st Mall, two of the best places to shop in Perth. Both these streets have a variety of speciality stores and the best part is that it is closed to traffic, so there is no vehicular disturbance as you hop from one shop to the other. These streets with a large number of retails stores give you a shopping experience like no other.